Strong leaves Louisville to become new UT head coach

Charlie Strong compiled a 37-15 record in his four seasons at Louisville. (Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press)

AUSTIN – After being kept waiting for more than 24 hours while Louisville’s Charlie Strong weighed an offer to become Texas’ head football coach, the Longhorns ended Saturday with the knowledge that they’d gotten their man.

With Louisville confirming to multiple outlets that Strong is leaving the school, a senior UT official said the Longhorns will officially announce Strong’s hiring on Sunday. A press conference to introduce Strong is tentatively scheduled for Monday.

UT athletic director Steve Patterson on Friday offered the job to Strong, who told his staff Saturday morning he had not made a decision. A UT source said Strong told the Longhorns he wanted to speak to Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich in person before accepting the deal, reported to be for five years and $25 million.

Jurich was vacationing in Colorado this week, and was delayed by winter storms before arriving in Kentucky and meeting with Strong on Saturday night. Once Strong informed Jurich of his decision, the Longhorns had the go-ahead to proceed.

Strong, 53, will become the first black coach of a men’s sport in UT history. He compiled a 37-15 record in four years at Louisville, including a 23-3 mark over his last two seasons. If he takes the UT job, he’ll replace Mack Brown, who stepped down last month after 16 years as the Longhorns’ head coach.

Although prominent boosters led by San Antonio billionaire Red McCombs lobbied for former NFL coach Jon Gruden and others were intrigued by the idea of pursuing Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher, Patterson targeted Strong without interviewing either of the other candidates.

UT formed an eight-member advisory committee to assist Patterson in his search, but that group never formally met. A second UT source said it’s clear that Strong’s selection is that of the man who took over as athletic director in November.

Born in Batesville, Ark., Strong played college football at Central Arkansas and is known as one of the nation’s top defensive coaches. His reputation soared during his tenure as Florida’s defensive coordinator from 2003-’09, when he helped lead the Gators to two national championships.

At Louisville, he took a program that went 15-21 under predecessor Steve Kragthorpe and led it to three bowl victories in four seasons. The highlight of his time with the Cardinals was the 2012 season, when they won the Big East beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2013, Louisville had hopes of contending for a national championship with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who’s expected to be one of the top picks in this spring’s NFL draft. A loss to Central Florida in October derailed those aspirations, but the Cardinals still finished 12-1 and beat Miami in last week’s Russell Athletic Bowl.